Unknown - Qur'an - Herat - 1460

Qur'an - Herat - Timurid - AD1460. This is a manuscript leaf from a Koran scribed shortly after Shah Rukh’s reign at a time of great political turmoil. It was relatively small for ease of carriage, thus was most likely for private use. it contains the most important phrase, "to Allah belongs the East and the West. So wherever you turn tere is the face of Allah".

It contains scripture from the Medinian Chapter 2, Al-Baqarah (The Cow) v.114-120, with blue and gold medallions in the margin marking verses 115 and verses 120 respectively, which focus on several themes: the sanctity of places of worship, the universality of God’s presence, the refutation of polytheistic beliefs regarding God having children, the role of the Prophet Muhammad as a warner, and the firm stance against adopting the religious ways of those who oppose Islam. The erses emphasize sticking to the true, monotheistic faith (Islam) and warn against compromising religious principles for the satisfaction of others. They establish that the ultimate guidance is from Allah, regardless of pressure to follow other faiths

The leaf contains 14 lines of evenly spaced and elegant naskhi script in black ink and in an educated calligraphic hand. Multiple free-hand 'aya' in a simple gold spiral mark out the verses . The leaf is fully framed in gold and blue lines.

There is some devotional use staining bottom left through page turning, but otherwise this is a good clean copy and very well preserved for its age dating from around the time of the fall of Constantinople to Islam in 1453.

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